Adoptive cellular immunotherapy of human ovarian carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.

Adoptive cell therapy with various purified populations of human lymphoid and monocytoid effector cells which have been in vitro activated with recombinant interleukin 2 and gamma-interferon was performed in an in vivo nude mouse model of human ovarian cancer. Administration i.p. of human interleukin 2-activated populations of large granular lymphocytes resulted in a significant extension of mean survival time (30 to 60 days) in this ovarian carcinoma model. In addition, T-cells activated with interleukin 2, in a similar fashion to large granular lymphocytes, also significantly prolonged survival of animals with ovarian carcinoma. In contrast, monocytes, with or without gamma-interferon activation, did not improve survival of tumor-bearing mice. In vitro results using direct isotopic release assays to measure efficacy of effectors against the ovarian cancer cells before and after activation, especially the activated natural killer cells, paralleled the effects on survival in the nude mouse model. However, the results with T-cells were somewhat inconsistent in vitro regarding their in vivo efficacy. We assume this is due to a delayed generation of activated killing in T-cells that is generated in vivo. These experimental results in this model system of human ovarian cancer indicate that transfer of autologous activated cells may have a role in the treatment of ovarian cancer patients.